Meet Us
Jacinta and Brittany have worked as pediatric diabetes clinical social workers for a combined 21 years, partners for 7. They started Blue Branch out of a shared passion for ensuring that all people living and growing with diabetes have every available resource and tool at their disposal. Brittany and Jacinta have a strengths-based approach to supporting and empowering individuals and families as they experience the ups, downs and milestones of managing this complex and challenging chronic illness. They are dedicated to advocating on behalf of their clients and educating and working within the systems around them to ensure success.
In addition to direct clinical care, Brittany and Jacinta have worked on numerous projects to improve services to families with diabetes, including high-risk patient care interventions, depression screening, and transition from pediatric to adult care. They highly value community engagement and education, having both volunteered at diabetes camp, helped to plan walks and diabetes health fairs, and been clinical social work field instructors. Both are frequent conference presenters on topics such as school and workplace rights, burnout and depression, caregiver support, co-parenting, and insurance. They have provided training to school nurses throughout the state of MI on the psychosocial considerations of caring for students with diabetes. They also serve on a state task force, Supporting Students With Diabetes in Schools, alongside stakeholders from across MI, working to create and disseminate a standardized Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP), 504 plan template, and centralized resource hub. Brittany and Jacinta have been the recipients of many awards and accolades for their efforts and dedication to enhancing the lives of children and families with diabetes.
Jacinta Florek LMSW, MPH
Jacinta earned her Masters degrees in Social Work and Public Health from the University of Michigan in 2008 with concentration areas of Interpersonal Practice with Children and Youth and Health Behavior and Education. She worked as part of the Pediatric Diabetes Team at the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital for 14 years, with prior roles in Pediatric Behavioral Health. Jacinta and her husband spend most of their free time at the hockey rink, theater and baseball fields, cheering on their three children. Jacinta loves music, walking her dog, and spending time with her large extended family.
Jacinta earned her Masters degrees in Social Work and Public Health from the University of Michigan in 2008 with concentration areas of Interpersonal Practice with Children and Youth and Health Behavior and Education. She worked as part of the Pediatric Diabetes Team at the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital for 14 years, with prior roles in Pediatric Behavioral Health. Jacinta and her husband spend most of their free time at the hockey rink, theater and baseball fields, cheering on their three children. Jacinta loves music, walking her dog, and spending time with her large extended family.
Brittany Carey, LMSW
Brittany has a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan with a focus in Interpersonal Practice and Health (2010). She has worked with the Pediatric Diabetes Team at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital for over 7 years, with prior roles in hospital social work, adolescent medicine, and inpatient perinatal services. Brittany enjoys traveling and going on local outings with her spouse and two kiddos. She also enjoys reading and spending time with her dog.
Brittany has a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan with a focus in Interpersonal Practice and Health (2010). She has worked with the Pediatric Diabetes Team at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital for over 7 years, with prior roles in hospital social work, adolescent medicine, and inpatient perinatal services. Brittany enjoys traveling and going on local outings with her spouse and two kiddos. She also enjoys reading and spending time with her dog.